Why Disney vs Carnival?

[Cuizer2]

Thank you for justifying the reason I'm having a difficult time with this.

 

 

Yes, Disney Word 9x, kids have only cruised once on Carnival

 

I have a 2 boys and a girl. Sounds like DS8 would not be very happy with all those princesses. We're not even allowed to take his pic with many of the characters now in case his friends ever see it. I agree that Disney would be fun, but the cost is an obvious factor. If not Disney or Carnival Cruisinmama, what other ship would you rec.? I'm looking for entertainment for the kids that doesn't break the bank. We are considering paying for BIL family and doing a vow renewal as well. There is a slight chance of taking just DS3 and hubby in June to Disney World for a work conference and maybe we could add on a Disney cruise to try it out before bringing everyone.

 

Another good cruise line would be Royal Caribbean. I recommend the Voyager and Freedom class. If you don't mind an entire town on the water, you can also try the Oasis and Allure (the Allure is still being built).

 

The Voyager class has ice skating, rock claiming, a skating track and mini golf. The Freedom class has all of that except it has a Flowrider instead of a skate track plus a mini water park. I haven't been on the Oasis.

 

Miniature golf on the Mariner of the Seas ...

 

 

Skate track on the Mariner of the Seas ...

 

 

Ice skating on the Mariner of the Seas ...

 

 

Flowrider on the Freedom OTS ...

 

 

The H2O Zone on the Freedom OTS ...

 

 

[MamaParrotHead]

If you take the $$$$$$ out of the discussion I'm sure 99 percent would opt FOR a Disney Cruise . I am in the early planning stages for next fall and am struggling to justify the additional money. It's not just a couple of hundred for a family of 5 ,its well over a grand

 

Not I. One of the main reasons we haven't attempted Disney or a Disney cruise is because the thought of being surrounded 24/7 by Disney stuff wigs me out, LOL. I love Disney things in small doses...love all the movies, we watch a lot of the Disney Channel. Even some of the songs. We do Disney on Ice. But I cannot hack 360 degrees of Disney, LOL.

 

I enjoy that we have clean, comfortable, large rooms and I don't run into a 12 foot high army man when I walk out the door. And plenty to do as a family, the kids in Camp, and us as adults on the ship. Courteous staff, spotless ship, plenty of good ports, and everyone is happy (from the 3 year old to the 86 year old on our last trip).

[Jajone]

We're seriously looking at The Jewel or Epic now. I've moved on from Disney, just can't bring myself to spend that money yet. After reading about NCL, I'm very interested.

[Cuizer2]

We're seriously looking at The Jewel or Epic now. I've moved on from Disney, just can't bring myself to spend that money yet. After reading about NCL, I'm very interested.

 

NCL would also be a good choice for kids. NCL is very similar to Carnival except for the Freestyle Dining.

[MamaParrotHead]

NCL would also be a good choice for kids. NCL is very similar to Carnival except for the Freestyle Dining.

 

Most Carnival ships have this now as well, I think it's called "Your Time" dining.

[Cuizer2]

Most Carnival ships have this now as well, I think it's called "Your Time" dining.

 

Carnival has two restaurants and both serve the same thing (plus the buffet and a supper club on the newer ships). Also, Carnival still offers traditional dining.

 

NCL has about ten restaurants on each ship and does not offer traditional dining at all.

 

Freestyle dining involves more than just eating when you want.

[Frenchsnowhite]

We're seriously looking at The Jewel or Epic now. I've moved on from Disney, just can't bring myself to spend that money yet. After reading about NCL, I'm very interested.

 

I don't know where you're from, but NY is an easy place to go and same thing for Miami. Keep in your mind that the NCL Epic is a brand new ship that will sail for it's first cruise in july, so it will be more expensive than the Jewel:rolleyes:

[ericrz]

Although I grew up in Orlando and spent a lot of my childhood at WDW (and still love it!), I doubt my family will ever take a Disney cruise.

 

Why? Three words. TOO. MANY. KIDS.

 

I'm not anti-child -- I love kids, and adore my 3-yo daughter. But she's pretty well-behaved; and when she's NOT, I know how to correct her behavior with minimal impact on the people around us.

 

From watching other parents and children, that's not universally the case. And while I know some kid-free groups cruise with Disney, they're in the minority. From what I understand, the ratio of kids to adults on the Disney cruise line is substantially higher than it is on other lines.

 

The lack of a casino is a (minor) negative as well.

 

I'll save my Disney expenditures for the theme parks, thanks!

[Mack2]

Hi! DH and I were just on Navigator a couple weeks ago, without our kids and while we thought there was a lot for children to do on the ship, there were SO many seniors everywhere. I saw some children but very few and we got the impression it would not be very exciting for them. You did not find this with RCCI?

 

Navigator of the Seas leaves from San Juan for southern caribbean cruises.

Depending on the time of year, those cruises might not be full of younger families and kids.

 

It's all a matter of the kid's schedules, and the cost of flying the entire family to Puerto Rico and back to start a cruise.

 

President's Week, you'll probably find a plethora of kids no matter where you go.

January? Not so much.

 

 

Also... I've found that no kids go on Panama Canal cruises... that's all geri's (geriatrics)... ditto with Alaska.

 

One thing I'm waiting for is for the new Disney ships (2011-2012) to go to Alaska. Alaska is boring to kids... but if we can throw them on a Disney cruise... then maybe they won't mind staring at glaciers and icebergs with mom and dad.

[loveysbydesign]

I wish we could afford a disney cruise with the options we like but we can't.

 

I priced them and for the equivalent of a junior suite we would have to pay more than $2000 more. The extras of disney aren't worth it to us to give up a big room and balcony. We LOVE WDW and go every year. I guess we willl just have to stick with land based disney. Maybe someday we will be able to swing it. I think there are tons of options/fun out there though.

 

I will note though that the closer we get to college days the less we spend on vacations. We used to stay only deluxe at disney now we do the dolphin or moderates. Our girls are 4 and 6 so we will have two in college at the same time!

 

Monica

Don't say you can't afford to cruise with Disney...you CAN but you don't want to give up having a balcony or suite. When we went on our Disney cruise we were sooooo busy we were only in our rooms to shower and sleep! And we were on a 7 night one! We would GLADLY give up a balcony or suite on another cruiseline to sail 2 inside connecting staterooms(there was 5 of us) If you LOVE Disney then the magic of a Disney cruise is priceless and your kids will only be little ONCE!

Yes, we'll probably do other cruises when they're older and tire of the characters. I even tried to talk them into sailing on the Inspiration to save money but all 3 of my kids and my dh vetoed me!

 

Also one great thing about Disney is that they are very strict with keeping the kids out of the adults only areas. I've heard many complaints on these boards that the other cruiselines do not do as good as of a job enforcing the adults only rule. And as far as Disney having a ton more kids it really depends on when you cruise...not really if it's Carnival or Disney. At certain times of the year many of the cruises with various companies are over ridden with kids...whether it be spring break or the summer.

 

Also wanted to add that on a Disney ship you are not over run with Disney things everywhere. It's not like staying at one of their value resorts...not gaudy, not tacky and in fact very elegant and beautiful!

[lollylew]

Carnival has two restaurants and both serve the same thing (plus the buffet and a supper club on the newer ships). Also, Carnival still offers traditional dining.

 

NCL has about ten restaurants on each ship and does not offer traditional dining at all.

 

Freestyle dining involves more than just eating when you want.

 

Don't most of those restaurants cost extra though? :confused:

[Cuizer2]

Don't most of those restaurants cost extra though? :confused:

 

There are at least four that don't. The two main restaurants, the buffet and what I call sit down fast food (called the Blue Lagoon on the two ships I have been on). Both times I sailed the Italian and Tex-Mex restaurants were free. That may have changed now.

 

The steakhouse (Cagney's), the French restaurant (Le Bistro) and the Oriental restaurant (Teppanyaki and Ginza) cost extra.

 

I don't recall the rest. Nonetheless, you don't have to pay extra if you do not want to. Also, on each of my sailings there was always a time when the extra cost restaurants were half price (except Teppanyaki).

[boulders]

Also... I've found that no kids go on Panama Canal cruises... that's all geri's (geriatrics)... ditto with Alaska.

 

One thing I'm waiting for is for the new Disney ships (2011-2012) to go to Alaska. Alaska is boring to kids... but if we can throw them on a Disney cruise... then maybe they won't mind staring at glaciers and icebergs with mom and dad.

 

There were several hundred kids on our Alaskan cruise this past summer, including my 3. They had so much more fun than on a Caribbean cruise too. There are tons of things in Alaska for kids to do - dog sledding, kayaking, whale watching. No icebergs though. ;)

[MrsZee]

Being a Disney family, and having gone to the park 9 times you really ought to try a Disney cruise sometime. Seems anyone who would go to the park that many times would probably love it. Plus, your kids are probably still at the age that they would be cool with it but not for much longer, so do it while you can. I have never been on one, but I am very intrigued by their personal island they go to, I would love to go on one just for that. I know it's not just disney characters, the ships have a lot to offer.

 

Another option is getting an interior cabin. I too have only been on one cruise and we are going on another in May and decided to go to the interior. I had a hard time justifying that much of a money difference just for a window when I could just go to the promenade or lido deck and see the ocean.

[Frenchsnowhite]

 

Another option is getting an interior cabin. I too have only been on one cruise and we are going on another in May and decided to go to the interior. I had a hard time justifying that much of a money difference just for a window when I could just go to the promenade or lido deck and see the ocean.

 

You're gonna stay with this way of thinking until you get your first window or balcony:eek: After that you'll see that it's hard to go back to an inside:rolleyes:

Believe me;)

[loveysbydesign]

You're gonna stay with this way of thinking until you get your first window or balcony:eek: After that you'll see that it's hard to go back to an inside:rolleyes:

Believe me;)

That may be for some people...but for some of us we can only afford an inside so we're perfectly happy just to be on the cruise!

Actually we had a window for our 1st cruise and inside for the 2nd and we liked the inside so our kids weren't up at the crack of dawn!:D

[PTN96]

We love Disney Cruise Line. We have done 2 4 night cruises and 2 7 night cruises. We go in October over fall break so it's cheaper!

 

We are trying a Carnival cruise this time. We just want to do something different. I have however had to look at the things that cost extra on Carnival compared to Disney. Sodas -- those drink cards add up. The late night babysitting -- $20.00 a night for 7 nights adds $140.00 to the bill. I know those are little things but they are also things we didn't have to worry about on Disney. Disney also allows alcohol to be brought on which saves a little here and there.

 

We enjoyed our Disney cruises but don't think they are the only cruise line.

mindi

[ocdcruisenut]

Of my 5 cruises, I would say that our 4 night Disney Magic was the most memorable. The balcony cabin was very large, the food and restaurant rotation was fabulous, kids club and shows awesome for our then 5 and 11 year olds. We went at the end of August which was reasonably priced at the time. For the same price and in a JR suite we were able to take a 5 day RCI on Enchantment over spring break when the kids were 8 and 14. The itinerary was great, Belize, Cozumel and Key West. Fast forward and our almost 12 and 18 year olds are very excited to go on another 5 day Spring Break cruise on RCI, Navigator of the Seas. This time we got 2 cabins, a balcony and inside promenade across the hall. The ship has a lot of amenties that they are looking forward to utilizing including ice skating, mini gold and rock climbing. My point in sharing is that each cruise fit our wants, needs, budget and desires at the time. My hubby and I have taken a Carnival cruise sans kids and did not enjoy it nearly as much as our RCI and Disney cruise. So, read, research and check the calendar and the bank statement before booking. Once you do, don't second guess. Enjoy every moment. Afterwards you can choose to sail on another cruise line if you want. I'll bet once you go on one cruise, it will NOT be your last! ;)

[epixx]

We, a family of 4, have sailed at least 9 cruises, including Disney, NCL, Carnival, RCI, Celebrity, and Princess. I would say that the only one we did not enjoy was the Disney cruise. The food was awful (personal taste, but all 4 of us agreed), the dining rooms were claustrophobic (without windows), the kids club room was depressing (very dark), and the pools were by far the most crowded of any. We would only return to Disney if the price were much lower than the others.

[crzgrl66]

Of my 5 cruises, I would say that our 4 night Disney Magic was the most memorable. The balcony cabin was very large, the food and restaurant rotation was fabulous, kids club and shows awesome for our then 5 and 11 year olds. We went at the end of August which was reasonably priced at the time. For the same price and in a JR suite we were able to take a 5 day RCI on Enchantment over spring break when the kids were 8 and 14. The itinerary was great, Belize, Cozumel and Key West. Fast forward and our almost 12 and 18 year olds are very excited to go on another 5 day Spring Break cruise on RCI, Navigator of the Seas. This time we got 2 cabins, a balcony and inside promenade across the hall. The ship has a lot of amenties that they are looking forward to utilizing including ice skating, mini gold and rock climbing. My point in sharing is that each cruise fit our wants, needs, budget and desires at the time. My hubby and I have taken a Carnival cruise sans kids and did not enjoy it nearly as much as our RCI and Disney cruise. So, read, research and check the calendar and the bank statement before booking. Once you do, don't second guess. Enjoy every moment. Afterwards you can choose to sail on another cruise line if you want. I'll bet once you go on one cruise, it will NOT be your last! ;)

 

I couldn't agree more. Research is key. I have read many great things about Carnival on this board and after our last Carnival Cruise, we will never sail on them again. Disney we loved. Next time we are trying RCCL Liberty of the Seas. We have been many Celebrity Cruises before kids and look forward to doing that some time in the future, just the 2 of us. We weigh the price difference and decide if it is worth it.

 

For the posters that said their boys didn't like Disney because too much "princess" stuff. I have to totally disagree. My boys 13, 7, & 5 really enjoyed Disney. My teen went on scavenger hunts and loved the club. My younger boys didn't even see any princesses mostly pirates and Mickey & Goofy. We skipped the princess show and went to the Toy Story Show. Anyway, I thought they did an excellent job with boys and girl activities.